Career Exploration leads to Success in the Skilled Trades

Dylan MacKenzie grew up playing sports and in high school, he excelled in math and science. When he wasn’t on the basketball court or in class, he worked with his father laying foundations.  He wanted to design buildings and dreamed of a career where he could incorporate his passion for trades work with his interest in math and science. He thought an engineering degree would encompass all of that and in 2020, amidst the Covid-19 global pandemic, Dylan began his engineering degree at Dalhousie University.  It wasn’t long before he realized that he wanted to pursue a different career path. 

Dylan's father showed him an ad that he noticed on social media. The ad was shared by the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre promoting the Apprenticeship Pathways to Shipbuilding Program.  This program is a partnership between Irving Shipbuilding Inc., the Nova Scotia Community College, the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, and the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, including the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. The Apprenticeship Pathways to Shipbuilding Program paves the way for Indigenous Peoples to begin a career in the skilled trades. After Dylan looked more into the program, he knew it was something that he wanted to pursue. “It was the best opportunity I had going for me when I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to do,” he said.

Dylan said that from the beginning, it was evident that the program was set up for student success. “I had to go through an interview, just like a job, and credit checks to make sure everything was in line for me to be able to succeed,” he said. Before Dylan started the Steamfitter/Pipefitter course, he participated in an entry-level program where he, along with individuals who had been out of school for years, had the opportunity to brush up on their skills and ensure they had foundational knowledge before the program began. After that, he was on a fast track, taking courses through the summer to complete the pipefitter program in 18 months – a program that normally takes a student two years to complete.

Earning apprenticeship hours

Dylan said that one of the great things about the Apprenticeship Pathways to Shipbuilding program is that students can earn up to 1,800 hours toward apprenticeship certification in a skilled trade. Participants also complete three work placements where they work with employers and develop more hands-on work experience.

Career exploration 

Dylan is thankful for the opportunity to have been able to explore the pipe trades through the program. He said that it gave him an idea of what it would be like to work in the trade before choosing that as a career. 

For those who are considering a career in the skilled trades, Dylan recommends participating in a career exploration program, such as co-operative education. “Career seekers should get an idea of what they are getting into and if they will like working in that field before investing a lot of time and money,” he suggests. “There are so many different fields to work in in the skilled trades and they are all so different.” 

Dylan completed the program with resounding success and when finished, had accumulated 1800 hours toward an apprenticeship certification as a pipefitter. After college, Dylan found an employer who was willing to hire and train him as an apprentice and is currently registered as an Industrial Pipefitter with Gilson’s Construction. “I’m very happy to be working with Gilson’s Construction. Not only are they a great crew to work with, but they also treat me very well and are providing all the resources that I need to complete my apprenticeship and to become a certified journeyperson”.